Smith Micro Software, Inc. introduced SafePath OS?, a new family safety solution to be built on the Android operating system, which focuses on digital safety for children and families while providing mobile network operators (MNOs) another way to offer a kids phone to their subscribers. The solution is expected to be available in the second half of this year and will serve as another means for MNOs to support their family subscribers in the rapidly changing and increasingly dangerous digital and physical world. Smith Micro will work with MNOs to package and promote a kids phone with Smith Micro?s powerful SafePath® digital family safety software preinstalled and configured on one or more devices selected by the MNO.

A software-only solution, SafePath OS will expand Smith Micro?s reach from a subscription app-only solution to enabling MNOs to offer devices powered by SafePath OS. SafePath OS will provide an option for MNOs to market and promote a safe and secure kids device pre-loaded with the SafePath OS and position MNOs to more fully compete with over-the-top family safety solutions. Most importantly, the selected device will come out of the box ready to use with pre-determined parental control settings, an always active VPN, and evasion protection so that SafePath cannot be bypassed or evaded.

SafePath OS will be offered through MNOs in North America and Europe and will be an off-the-shelf solution that works immediately with pre-configured and pre-installed defaults that do not require pairing with a parent app, but once paired with the parent app will offer even more safety controls and features.